The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-12-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1887.
Speaker Carlisle has big job on his
hands. There is great deal more
trouble than appears on the surface
How to arrange the committees is al.
ways perplexing question, but in the
organization of this congress there seems
to be more confusion than usual. The
truth is there has been good deal Of
trading going on, and to deliver all
things according to the agreement, il
quite difficult task. As sample OF
several cases, ! mention this one: The
President wants Scott, or Pennsylvania,
as chairman of the committee of ways
and means. Carlisle don't like him, and
promised the place to Mills, of Texas,
and Mills is an arrogant sort of fellow,
and don't want to yield any prestige.
1t is one of the most important commit
tees of the House, and the chairman, by
virtue of long usage, becomes a member
of the committee on rules, and hence
an additional importance 10 attached to
that position. Mr.. Mills says openly
that the place was promised him, and
that he is going to have it or there will
be some lively music. Perry Belmont,
of New York, is booked for the chair
manship of foreign relations, but Tim
Campbell and other New York mem
bers are strongly opposing him. And
so in numerous other instances, and
that is why say the Speaker has got a
big job on his hands. Mr.. Randall says
"the two wings of the Democratic party
flap together" but they don't have that
appearance just at this time.
1t is expected that the Senate will act
on the Presidents nominations on
Wednesday, and that all will be con-
firmed. Friends of Mr.. Lamar and Gen.
Villas seem very confident.
The National Republican committee
had glorious session, and everything
betokened harmony and success for
next year. Chicago, as usual, was lucky
in getting the convention. The next
question is to nominate ticket that
will win. That is of more Importance
than anything else, and the feeling is
universal here among Republicans, that
victory is sure. and think the wiser
heads of the Democratic party SO re-
gard it.
The Senate have completed their
committee list, and every man seems
satisfied with the position assigned him.
The best of feeling exists among Repub-
licans in both wings of the capitol, and
the disposition to observe the present
harmony is very observable.
There are several members who do
not draw their salaries until the close of
the session. The majority, however,
draw their pay monthly. 1 know of a
few who check out their pay every day
regularly, and are then always hard
pushed for money. Taken as an aver
age, including salary, mileage, and sta
tionery, which is often drawn in money,
a Congressman gets sixteen dollars per
day. That is large for some members but
there are several Congressman whose
private income is from $500 to 81 900 a
day, and with them, salary is of the
least consideration.
A greater contrast is not possible than
that between Senator Evarts, of New
York, and Beck, of Kentucky. Beck is
a Scotchman by birth, and sixty-six
years old; Evarts was born in Boston,
and is seventy. The Kentucky Senator
is big and burly, with a very small nose.
Senator Evarts is little and delicate,
with monstrous big nose. Mr.. Beck is
bluff, and his sentences fall like chips
under the axe; Mr.. Evarts is suave and
diplomatic. and revels in Lation and
Greek derivations. No two men were
ever more antlpathetic. The poles are
not further apart than these two Sena-
ators. and yet both are great leaders,
and have a large following in their re-
spective parties.